The vagina itself is one opening, but the area around it (called the vulva) has three separate openings: the urethral opening, the vaginal opening, and the anus. Many people use the word “vagina” to refer to everything between a woman’s legs, but the vagina is actually just one canal with one opening. The broader region, properly called the vulva, contains the other openings as well.
Three Openings, Front to Back
If you look at the vulvar area from front to back, the three openings appear in this order:
- The urethral opening sits just below the clitoris. This is where urine exits the body. It’s small and can be hard to spot, which is one reason many people don’t realize it exists as a separate opening from the vagina.
- The vaginal opening is just below the urethral opening. This is the entrance to the vaginal canal, which connects to the cervix and uterus higher up inside the body. Menstrual blood leaves through it, babies are delivered through it during vaginal birth, and it’s used during intercourse.
- The anus is the third and most posterior opening, separated from the vaginal opening by a small patch of skin called the perineum. The anus is part of the digestive tract, not the reproductive system, but its close proximity to the vaginal and urethral openings is worth knowing about because bacteria can travel between them.
Why People Confuse the Vulva and Vagina
In everyday language, “vagina” has become a catch-all term for the entire genital area. This starts early. From childhood, many people learn vague or infantile nicknames for the region rather than accurate anatomy. That habit carries into adulthood, and even product labels for things like washes and wipes tend to avoid specific terms, using phrases like “intimate area” instead.
The distinction matters in practical terms. The vulva is the external anatomy you can see: the labia (inner and outer lips), the clitoris, and the openings described above. The vagina is the internal, elastic canal that you cannot see from the outside. Its opening is just one part of the vulva. When someone says “the vagina has three holes,” what they really mean is the vulvar region has three openings, and the vagina accounts for one of them.
The Vaginal Opening Up Close
The vaginal opening sits in a recessed area of the vulva called the vestibule, which is the smooth skin between the inner labia. The vaginal canal itself is lined with folds called rugae that allow it to stretch significantly. Layers of elastic tissue and collagen give the vagina its ability to expand during arousal and, more dramatically, during childbirth. When unaroused, the vaginal walls rest against each other, so it’s not an open tube. It changes shape depending on what’s happening.
The vaginal opening is partially bordered by the hymen, a thin piece of tissue left over from fetal development. Despite its reputation, the hymen is not a solid seal. In most people, it’s a soft, crescent-shaped or ring-shaped fringe of tissue that surrounds the opening without blocking it. It needs to remain open so menstrual blood can leave the body. A completely closed hymen (called an imperforate hymen) is a rare medical condition, occurring in roughly 1 in 1,000 people.
The Urethral Opening Is Separate
One of the most common points of confusion is thinking that urine comes out of the vagina. It doesn’t. The urethral opening is its own small hole, positioned between the clitoris and the vaginal opening. The urethra is a short tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body, and its only job is to carry urine out. It’s entirely separate from the reproductive system.
Because the urethral opening is small and close to the vaginal opening, it’s easy to miss on visual inspection. But the two are distinct structures with completely different functions.
Smaller Gland Openings in the Area
Beyond the three main openings, the vulvar vestibule also contains tiny duct openings from glands that produce lubrication. The most notable are the Bartholin glands, located on either side of the vaginal opening. Each one connects to the vestibule through a small duct about 2 centimeters long. These glands produce mucus that lubricates the vaginal opening during arousal. Under normal circumstances, you can’t feel or see them. They only become noticeable if a duct gets blocked and swells.
There are also smaller glands near the urethral opening that produce moisture. These tiny duct openings aren’t “holes” in the way most people mean when they ask this question, but they are technically additional openings in the vulvar skin.
Why Knowing This Anatomy Matters
Understanding the layout of these openings helps with everyday hygiene, comfort, and health. Because the urethra, vagina, and anus are all close together, wiping from front to back reduces the chance of moving bacteria from the anal area toward the urethra, which can cause urinary tract infections. Knowing the urethral opening is separate from the vagina also makes it easier to understand symptoms: burning during urination, for example, points to the urethra and bladder rather than a vaginal issue.
If you’re trying to use a tampon, menstrual cup, or similar product, knowing that the vaginal opening is the middle of the three openings (below the urethra, above the anus) can make insertion simpler and less stressful. The vagina angles slightly toward the lower back rather than going straight up, which is another detail that helps in practice.